Police in Bongo declares war against motorbike snatchers

Bongo District Police Commander, ASP Paul Archibald Ankan.

The Bongo District Police Command has confirmed its readiness to wage relentless war against individuals and groups that perpetuate crime in the area.

The Police force has therefore issued a stern warning to criminals who are trooping to the area to embark on crime related activities such as motorbike snatching and armed robbery.

Speaking to Radio Ghana's Isaac Asare, the District Commander of Police, ASP Paul Archibald Ankan, observed that due to intense patrol operations in Bolgatanga and its environs by the Regional Police Command, most of the criminals have extended their activities to areas such as Bongo and Nabdam after being chased and smoked from their hideouts.

He was optimistic that with the cooperation of the general public, the police were resolute in its quest to flush out miscreants and syndicates of motorbike snatching in the district.

He said the police was not going to allow criminals take over the area and make life uncomfortable for the people.

What was disturbing, he noted was their mode of operation and explained that people usually fall prey to their nefarious activities sometimes at gun point.

Others are sometimes inflicted with machete wounds and other sharp and offensive weapons.

Meanwhile, with the collective effort of the youth in the district, one of the notorious motorbike snatchers (name withheld) was gunned down by the police together with a suspected rider who was shot accidently after refusing to stop following several warning shots.

According to ASP Ankan, other suspected criminals in the area are at large, stressing that the police will not relent on its effort to clamp down on criminals.

He, however cautioned the public to be wary of such miscreants and not hesitate to relay and volunteer valued information to the police should they come across any dubious activity emanating from any part of the district.

ASP Ankan further charged traditional authorities and the media to support the police by educating the masses on the activities of criminals and how they can assist the police to clamp down on offenders.

ASP Ankan said fighting motorbike snatching which constitutes mobile crime in the district was a challenging because the area is surrounded by various intersections that makes it difficult for the police to trace offenders since they are using motorbikes.

He therefore called on individuals and other interest groups to come to the aid of the police by procuring motorbikes for them to intensify their daily patrol duties.

GBC